WHEREAS, during the 19th and 20th centuries, in blatant disregard for tribal sovereignty, Indigenous children were forcibly abducted by government agents and sent to more than 523 government-funded Native American boarding schools in operation across the United States where they were stripped of their culture, languages, and traditions with the insidious goal of forcing them to assimilate into Western culture; and
WHEREAS, Chemawa Indian School first opened as the Federal boarding school in Forest Grove as the Indian Industrial Training School in 1880 before moving immediately north of Salem in 1885, where its operations continue today; and
WHEREAS, the Native American Caucus is aware of the long history of neglect and mismanagement of Chemawa and other federal boarding schools by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
WHEREAS, last year, it was found that the Chemawa Cemetery has been historically neglected, with garbage and litter near the 175 student graves and the surrounding area during a visit in early May 2024 and the Native American Caucus thus organized a cemetery cleanup on Memorial Day 2024 that involved 42 community members; and
WHEREAS, Chemawa Indian School serves as the final resting place of approximately 175 of the 270 Chemawa students who died while under the care of the Federal Government between 1880 and 1945, and the Native American Caucus seeks to highlight and recognize this piece of Oregon history and honor the many children who were stolen, never to return home.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES THAT:
Section 1. The Bureau of Indian Affairs be removed as caretakers of the cemetery and supervision of Chemawa Indian School and adjacent property and be replaced by a coalition of Tribes who have called the Chemawa property as their tribal homelands since Time Immemorial.
Resolution submitted by Kevin Simmons; Native American Caucus; William Miller; Native American Caucus; John Spence; Native American Caucus; Randy Knop;Union County; and Valdez Bravo, Native American Caucus
Adopted 3/16/2025
